Chapter 14
Hogsmead mess (Linkin Park in the kitchens)
The Hogsmead trip was the day before Halloween, so it was extra busy in the small town. Not only were most of the students there but also half the population were busy shopping for their last Halloween supplies.
Harry rolled his eyes was he was dragged along by Ginny. He hadn't really fancied going, not after what happened with Katie Bell in his sixth year. But since Ginny insisted, and because Harry didn't mind meeting up with his parents and their friends later that day, he let himself be dragged through the familiar streets.
There were a few differences. Shops that had been closed and boarded up, showing signs of development into something 'new'. But most were the same as they had always been. So they visited Honeydukes and Zonko's. At twelve they met up with the group for lunch in the Three Broomsticks. They went early to ensure a table before it became too crowded.
Harry let his eyes wonder around the room. Frank and Alice (not yet both Longbottum) were sitting in a quiet corner, only eyes on each other. Harry could swear he noticed a young Amelia Bones and Rosmerta in the crowd as well as a few other parents from students Harry knew in his days. He also came across faces that he remembered from somewhere, but couldn't place them right away.
"Harry what would you like," James said staring at Harry with an almost intense gaze. "I'm buying." Harry grinned, an almost evil glint in his eye. "Well since you are buying." Ginny elbowed him and he turned to her with an innocent look. "That won't work with me, but your looks are getting better."
A round of laughter came from the rest and Harry ordered a Butterbeer. As James walked towards the bar to order, a gust of wind ruffled Harry's hair. He looked up to see a group of Slytherins entering. They seemed to be scanning the room for something. But they soon turned and left. Harry furrowed his brow. There was something odd about those Slytherins. There was enough room left, so why hadn't they decided to stay?
"… spent most of my allowance in Zonko's of course," Sirius said as he rummaged through his bag. "Had to get some more parchment and quills, but fortunately I didn't need much else. What did you get Moony, apart from chocolate?"
"Hey! What's that suppose to mean?" Remus pouted as he held his Honeydukes bag close to his chest. "You know very well you're a chocaholic," Sirius said rolling his eyes. Every one snickered. "Am not."
"Are to."
"Am not."
"Are to."
Remus stared at Sirius for a bit before he gave in. "Fine," he said in a childish tone. "I was planning to share most of it, but you aren't getting anything now." Sirius looked at him in horror. "Why not?" he whined, almost dog like.
Remus raised an amused eyebrow and took a sip form his drink as James had returned with the drinks. At that moment a scream and an explosion sounded from outside. The room shook, spilling the some of the contents from the drinks on the table. "What the…?"
The three broomsticks was dead silent for a minute as all were trying to listen what had made the disturbance. But before anyone could even think of it being false alarm, more screams and explosions were heard. Before anyone could have moved, Harry had rushed to the door (jumping over table in the process). He pulled the door open and stepped outside.
He cast one look at his surroundings to realise they were in serious trouble. At least a dozen Death Eaters were casting spells, causing panic and destruction trough the once peaceful street. The door of the three Broomsticks opened again and he saw people starting to come and see for themselves what the disturbance was.
"Everyone able should help fight or evacuate the younger students back to Hogwarts. Someone must alert the teachers as well, see that they can help us. Now go!" and Harry ran towards the nearest Death Eater who was torturing a young girl. Stupefy! Impedimenta! He cast non-verbally. The Death Eater was blasted away and Harry started dragging the girl towards safety as more people rushed in to duel the Death Eaters.
"Go, I'll take her," a familiar looking boy said, rushing over to relief Harry. He patted the boy' shoulder quickly, nodding his approval before he ran into the battle fiend again. He saw Sirius and James fighting along side each other, while Remus and Lily were joined by a girl Harry didn't know. A few shop owners were joined with a few more seventh years.
Harry rushed over towards Ginny, who just lost her partner. "BOMBARDA!" Ginny cried as she sent the blasting hex to gain some time. "GINNY!" Harry shouted as he rushed towards her. A second Death Eater had used the diversion to train his want at her. "Oh no you don't, IMPEDIMENTA!" Harry cried. "Expeliarmus, Stupefy!" The Death Eater dodged the first and the second nearly missed him.
Harry had reached Ginny though, and started a furious battle with her by his side. If anyone had been paying real attention to them at that moment, they would have noticed how Ginny's hair had turned into a furious red. Harry' was pitch black and his eyes were a green blaze.
Harry wondered silently if this would have happened if he and Ginny wouldn't have come to this era. He cast another silent Stupefy towards one of the Death Eaters. Another hex made contact with a shop wall which exploded on contact. Many students were running, their heads ducked low as if they were trying to disappear into the surroundings. Ginny was firing curses towards more Death Eaters that started to gather around them. It seemed they were very interested in the two teenagers. Damn it somebody help!
A big explosion drew everyone's attention. Harry turned to see the Death Eater that had been battling Lily, Remus and the girl, blast the three Hogwarts students away. The power of the explosion nearly blasted the Death Eater down as well, but he quickly turned to help his fellow Death Eaters that remained.
Harry paled as he saw his mother lay motionless on the ground. He barely heard the James cry out to her, as shock was replaced by anger. Rage he had felt only a few times before filled him and poured out of him as he battled on furiously. He had soon overpowered three Death Eaters and was mercilessly battling a forth one, when the Death Eaters started to retreat.
Come back you cowards, he wanted to yell but Ginny had grabbed his hand to hold him back. Harry turned towards her and saw over her shoulder that Dumbledore, McGonagall and Flitwick had arrived. He felt the rage leave his body, leaving him feeling drained and empty. He turned his gaze on Ginny.
She had a cut on her right cheek and Harry could see her shaking as adrenalin left her body. "Are you okay?" Harry whispered lifting his hand to brush through her hair. She looked up at him, her eyes still slightly brown but they were red as if she had been crying. "Yes and you?"
Harry nodded. "I'm fine." Ginny rolled her eyes; you should really stop saying that." But before Harry could answer, she had stepped forward and kissed him. Harry could feel his body tense a little as she pressed against a wound he hadn't noticed, but kissed her back all the same.
As they broke apart, Dumbledore approached them. The street was in ruins, pieces of rubble and shattered glass lying everywhere. "Miss Granger, Mr King, I hope you are well? Can either of you tell me what happened?" A short discussion followed as Harry and Ginny explained to the headmaster about the attack. "I first thought nothing of it," Harry said hesitating only a moment. "But I saw some Slytherin students enter and leave the Three Broomsticks. Didn't stay but a minute. I first thought that they might have thought it to busy, but with the attack happening."
"I'm not saying they had anything to do with it," Harry hastily continued. "I'm quite sure I didn't see them during the battle at all. I just couldn't help observing." A small silence formed before he continued again. "They seemed interested in us though."
Dumbledore raised his eyebrows. "What makes you say that?"
"I noticed before Lily was attacked. The Death Eaters were closing in on us. They seemed more interested in stunning us then torturing or blowing us up." Harry didn't continue as he could only guess at their motives and professor McGonagall approached them as well. Her face stood grim as she stepped over the rouble.
"Every student is accounted for and sent back to Hogwarts, Albus. Miss Evans and Miss Allison are still under treatment of Madame Pomfrey and Mr Lupin bounced back quite well. I have announced diner to be held in the common rooms."
Dumbledore nodded. "Yes I think that'll be best. Let us go back to Hogwarts. I'm sure we would all like so rest now. I will stay behind to help with the clean up."
…
"I could do with a snack," Remus said as he stretched out his muscles. After the battle his energy just seemed drained and his stomach was growling. Lily still hadn't been awake when they had left after dinner. Now James and Harry were talking quietly, while Sirius, Ginny and him were discussing the new Defence group that was suppose to start on the 3th of November.
"Good idea," Sirius said and he snuck upstairs to grab the Invisibility cloak. "Out cold," he said when he came downstairs. Peter had decided to go to bed as soon as dinner had been over. "Who else is coming?"
"Well," Ginny said as she looked at Sirius and Remus with amusement. "I don't mind, but I'll cast a Disillusionment Charm on myself." Sirius raised an eyebrow at her. "Don't trust us?" Harry rolled his eyes as he watched with amusement, a similar expression on James' face. "Remus I trust. You, not so much?" And Ginny tapped the top of her head with her wand.
Sirius pouted, but soon grinned as he saw the amusement on everyone's faces. "We'll stay here," Harry said looking at James who nodded. "But we wouldn't complain if you brought anything back for us." He smiled as Ginny kissed his cheek. "You guys coming or do I have to find my own way to the kitchens?" Ginny called as the Portrait Entrance opened.
"You have a feisty girl Harry," Sirius chuckled as he through the cloak around Remus' shoulders as well. "And don't I know it," Harry grinned and watched them disappear before going back to his conversation with James.
…
"Nothing better then a midnight snack," Sirius whispered as they reached the portrait that gave them entrance to the kitchens. He tickled the pear and the portrait of the fruit bowl swung open. A crash was heard and shortly after, music started to play. All three looked at each other before they entered the kitchen.
Some heavy metal sounding instruments blared for somewhere within the kitchen and a male voice started to sing, a female voice singing along.
Sometimes I
Need to remember just to breathe
Sometimes I
Need you to stay away from me
Sometimes I'm
In disbelief I didn't know
Somehow I
Need you to go
They moved further into the kitchen. A girl was seemingly working at one of the table tops. She was adding more flower to the table top as she dropped the dough onto it, creating a small cloud of flower around her. The house elves seem to pay her no attention apart from one who was helping her prepare ingredients.
Don't stay
Forget our memories
Forget our possibilities
What you were changing me into
[Just give me myself back and]
Don't stay
Forget our memories
Forget our possibilities
Take all your faithlessness with you
[Just give me myself back and]
Don't stay
Sirius and Ginny didn't seem to know what to do, but Remus had moved forward. At least they could let Nathalie know that she had company. She nearly jumped a foot in the air when he touched her shoulder. A string of colourful words escaped her as she clutched her heart. "What are you doing here?"
Sometimes I
Feel like I trusted you too well
Sometimes I
Just feel like screaming at myself
Sometimes I'm
In disbelief I didn't know
Somehow I
Need to be alone
Nathalie waved with her hands as if to say: wait, I can't hear you. She walked of to one of the farthest counters and suddenly the music stopped. "That's better. Now what are you three doing in the kitchens in the middle of the night." She seemed quite flushed as she moved back to her counter.
She finished her bread, decorating it with onions and cheese, and shoved it into the oven. "We were out for a midnight snack," Sirius said, watching the Ravenclaw move around the kitchen. The house elves promptly came with platters of food and drinks. "Another bottle, please Mopsy," Nathalie called as she emptied a bottle of something into her glass.
"Are you sure Miss," a house elf squeaked but came with another bottle before Nathalie could reply. "Thank you hun, can you get me some cake tins please." And Nathalie was mixing her ingredients once more.
"What are you doing here?" Sirius said, wolfing down a slice of lemon tart. Nathalie raised her eyebrows at him. "Can't you tell? I thought you were supposed to be smart?"
Remus and Ginny snickered as Sirius stared at her with his mouth slightly open. "Yes but why?" he said regaining the shock of her sarcasm.
"Oh for goodness sake!" Nathalie exclaimed as she started rummaging through the flasks on the kitchen unit. She grabbed a glass filled with a reddish pink liquid that she took a swing from, muttering all the way. "Now where did I leave that vanilla essence?" she sniffed at a few more bottles until a house elf popped beside her.
"Here you go Miss Angel. You should not be drinking so much miss, it's not good for you." The House elf piped. Nathalie rolled her eyes. "Thank you Mopsy, that'll do." She moved back to her counter, the glass in one hand and the flask in the other. She added the vanilla essence and drank deeply from her glass.
"That stuff never affects me anyway," Nathalie muttered as she tasted her creation. She smacked her lips, narrowed her eyes and added some more essence before stirring it in. "I feel like a bird in a cage at times," she said to Sirius, Remus and Ginny. "It's when I come here that I can release some of that stress. Baking and cooking takes my mind of things."
"Why cooking though, there are a lot of other ways to release stress," Remus asked as he nibbled at a bit of chocolate. He studied her moves around the kitchen. The way she seemed to know exactly where everything was. It looked like she was almost dancing around the kitchen, she looked that graceful. The smell of her sent… but he had to resist.
She was quiet for a minute as she finished of her cake and placed it into the oven, before she fixed her gaze on Remus. Her intense blue eyes seem to have a shade on green in it. "I have many hobbies' Mr Lupin," she said a sly grin on her face. "I seem to have developed a habit of having many, all not well for careers of course, much to my mother' dismay. She wants me out of the house as soon as I leave school."
She shrugged with her shoulders. "Not that I mind. I am the youngest of three; my brother and sister have moved out and are leading their lives. We all made a habit out of disappointing our parents, but what are children for? Now I play the piano, I bake and cook; I find languages and potions fascinating and like to spend my time listening to music and reading books."
Nathalie took another swing from her glass, emptying it and she moved to stand in front of the werewolf. She raised a hand to touch his face but seemed to rethink her movement at the last moment and turned away. "Of course, becoming a disappointment to my mother is my greatest hobby."
"Much like mine then," Sirius said as he stuffed another sandwich in his mouth, seemingly oblivious to the tension between the two. Ginny just rolled her eyes and slapped him on the arm. Nathalie turned her gaze on Sirius, who swallowed loudly as he shrunk back into his chair.
"Oh really? I wonder what it would be like to be a good daughter most of my life. My loving brother had a knack of finding trouble, but what very happy to use me in his idiotic games. My sister grew up being a rebel in everything, blaming me for most of her mistakes of course. Not that I am bitter or anything, but it does make me prone to idiocy. I hate failing, especially the ones that I could have prevented."
Nathalie stopped her musings and fell silent for a bit while she stared of into space. Unsure of what to do Remus shifted on the spot, looking at Ginny and then at Sirius. Neither seemed to be sure of what to do. But after a silent minute, Nathalie broke out of her trance and moved towards the oven. "Oh well, the past is the past. Even if we had a chance to change things, how would we change it?" Ginny was sure she saw Nathalie's eyes flash in her direction for a second.
A/N: I can't BELIEVE this stupid chapter. That whole Hogsmead scene was just a mess! But it's gone and finished now, THANK GOD! Started school so I'm becoming slower with posting by the minute. This is a pain, 'cause it just keeps swirling in my head! Love ya all, xx